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7 Replies Last post: May 11, 2008 6:59 AM by Alan

AdamW

109 posts since
Oct 29, 2004

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Jan 24, 2005 12:15 PM

Improving Airport reception

Hey Folks--

I've got a Titanium Powerbook--15 inch/400 MHz/10.3.7--and an Airport Extreme. Set up was as easy, but reception is poor. My house is small: two floors and 1200 square feet. And the base station is now in the middle of the second (main) floor. I've got some questions about how to improve reception.

1. I assume the base station transmits 360 degrees. But is that in a sphere or more of a horizontal plane? Knowing this will help me place the thing better--and drill fewer holes for wires.

2. Are there any settings on the base station (or my Mac) that I should know about to improve reception? When I set it up, I left most things at their default settings and followed the basic "getting started"-type directions that came with the base station.

3. Would a wireless card like the Sonnet Aria Extreme card help things? My thinking is that the card has an atenna that is less likely to suffer interference from the Titanium's case, as I've heard is the problem with the internal Airport card.

Thanks,

Adam

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pdrayton

1,821 posts since
Sep 19, 2003

1. Jan 24, 2005 3:53 PM

in response to: AdamW

Re: Improving Airport reception

The Airport Extreme has a "footprint" that resembles a pancake. It's wide and flat. If you mount the Airport Extreme on a wall sideways then your footprint will go up-and-down and not from one end of the house to the other. I know this because a friend of mine mounted his Airport Extreme on the wall (the base was flat against the wall) but didn't have good reception. I did the research and found that if he provided a resting place on the wall for it so it could sit flat the reception would improve. And it did, dramatically.

There are antennaes for select models of Airport Extreme base stations that will boost your range. I think they are made by Dr. Bott.

Since the Airport Extreme base station is capable of setting up a network via WDS why not invest in an Airport Express or another Airport Extreme base station? That way you get to extend your network's signal and maintain a pure Apple configuration.

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AdamW

109 posts since
Oct 29, 2004

2. Jan 24, 2005 7:15 PM

in response to: pdrayton

Re: Improving Airport reception

Thanks for the reply--and in the middle of a blizzard, yet!

You confirmed my suspicions about the Airport Extreme's "footprint." And your suggestion about getting another base station is a good one (Apple has refurbished Airport Express stations for $99.)

However, I was trying to both save money if possible and operating under the assumption that it was the Powerbook's poor reception that was the problem, not the strength of the network signal. If that's the case, then the computer will get poor reception wherever it goes. I was thinking that if a PC card like the Sonnet gets better reception, then I'd get better reception while traveling as well as at home.

Thanks,

Adam

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pdrayton

1,821 posts since
Sep 19, 2003

3. Jan 25, 2005 3:55 AM

in response to: AdamW

Re: Improving Airport reception

And what a blizzard it was! Waist deep in snow

I think your model of TiBook (was that the first of the G4 TiBooks?) has notoriously weak wireless reception, and the Sonnet card should improve it significantly.

I guess the Sonnet card is the way to go cost-wise, but do you have a new PowerBook in mind over the next year? If so, and depending on reception in your home, you might wind up buying an additional Airport Extreme/Express anyway to make your network bigger. Streaming music via AirTunes is fun, too!

Anyway... you're probably best with the Sonnet card! I didn't provide links for my resources previously because I wasn't sure where I had stored the links... but now I have them! So, here's everything you wanted to know about footprints for Airport Graphite, Snow and Extreme base stations:

The original "Graphite" used a Lucent card with a built-in 2dBi antenna with a smaller, mostly spherical transmission pattern. The Snow and Extreme use a dipole antenna that was built in the case, with antenna elements that sloped parallel to the top surface of the base station, creating a more "flat" transmission pattern. Dipole, and other antenna, footprints can be viewed here. And if you want to see what the dipole antenna inside the Airport Extreme base station looks like click here.

I'm still trying to find some definitive information on the footprint and antenna setup of the Airport Express.

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AdamW

109 posts since
Oct 29, 2004

4. Jan 25, 2005 7:08 AM

in response to: pdrayton

Re: Improving Airport reception

Hi--

Yeah, the TiBook I have was the first model. I'm thinking that the Sonnet card will make for a better computer and the Express would make for a better network. At $100 for a refurb Express and ~$70 for the card the cost is pretty close. I'm not planning on buying a another laptop in the near future. I think I'll see what the return policy is for the Sonnet card. I know the Express will work for me, but I'm only assuming the Sonnet card will make a significant difference. It'd be nice to be able to try it out.

I also have a Graphite Airport base station sitting around which someone gave me. But as far as I know, it can't be used via WDS. Anyone know different?

Thanks again for your help.

Adam

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pdrayton

1,821 posts since
Sep 19, 2003

5. Jan 25, 2005 7:38 AM

in response to: AdamW

Re: Improving Airport reception

Alas, only Airport Extreme is capable of WDS.

With no future PowerBook purchase on the horizon the Sonnet card makes sense.

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DKG

2 posts since
Feb 19, 2005

6. Feb 19, 2005 11:26 AM

in response to: pdrayton

Re: Improving Airport reception

My experience with a 667 Titanium Powerbook has been similar to yours - poor reception, especially compared to my black Pismo Powerbook. I have chosen to go the Airport Express route, which has enabled good reception within 40-50 ft. of the Express.

Yesterday I received a new Aluminum 1.67 G4 Powerbook ("ChiBook" from Shanghai factory...) At the moment I have the TiBook and ChiBook sittin next to each other. There are 3 Airport transmitters that both computers can see. So far I am not at all impressed with the reception of the new ChiBook as measured by MacStumbler...

computer.... Strength/Noise.... Transmitter/Distance
Tibook..............78/51..............Exp#1/15' (through a wall) Chan 11
Chibook...........44/0.................Exp#1/15' (through a wall) Chan 11

Tibook..............63/55..............Exp#2/25' Chan 11
Chibook...........35/0.................Exp#2/25' Chan 11

Tibook..............80/61..............SnowBase/15' (through a wall) Chan 1
Chibook...........32/0.................Exp#1/15' (through a wall) Chan 1

So - a new powerbook does not seem to be the answer! Anyone else have a suggestion?

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Alan

293 posts since
Jan 28, 2001

7. May 11, 2008 7:02 AM

in response to: AdamW

Re: Improving Airport reception

I just added a thread about plans for a antenna for improved wi-fi antenna. Interestingly you can plug it in to the computer or just put it close to the computer. It is dirt cheap to make and makes quite a difference according to my two friends who made one. I will make one and tell you how it goes, but I am travelling for a month or so so it will be awhile before I get at it.

Anyays here are the two links for the plans;

http://wireless.gumph.org/content/4/3/011-mini-wireless-antenna.html

http://wireless.gumph.org/articles/homemadeomni.html

Here is the link to my thread which is called "wifi antenna plans"

http://forums.macworld.com/thread/101271?tstart=0

1mac 24",Leopard, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.16 Ghz, 2GB ram, Griffen 250Gb ext HD,SuperDuper, iPod 8 Gb MagicJack, Canon PIXMA MP600 (Bluetooth)

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